First, I want to thank you for taking
such a strong, principled stand in opposing Judge Kavanaugh's
nomination to the Supreme Court. I
appreciate that in addition to opposing him for his outside-the-mainstream views on abortion, civil rights, workers' rights, environmental regulation and health care, you have articulated
why his views on executive power should disqualify him in light of the ongoing
investigation of the president. Indeed,
it would be outrageous for the president to be permitted to choose a justice
who could be a critical vote on issues relevant to his own liability and
that of his family and his associates.
In addition, it is beyond comprehension that a meaningful confirmation
hearing could be held without essential documents that could shed light on
Kavanaugh's work while in the Bush Administration on such fraught issues as torture and
wiretapping -- and on whether Kavanaugh was truthful when he minimized his involvement with these matters in sworn testimony during his prior confirmation hearing
for the federal bench. So thank
you.
I am also writing out of concern
that Democratic leadership may cut a deal that would permit the quick confirmation of
a number of federal judges in order allow Senators running for re-election in the midterms to hit the campaign trail. Given the pending Russia investigation, Trump's alleged involvement in violating campaign
finance laws that essentially make him an unindicted co-conspirator, and the almost daily revelations of scandal and corruption, Democrats must vigorously oppose all lifetime appointments until
these matters are resolved. The
Republican rush to confirm a record number of federal judges before the midterms has already proven disastrous for the judiciary, and it is far past time that you and your Democratic colleagues use
every possible procedural move to slow it down if you can’t shut it down. At the very minimum, no deals should be
struck with Republicans who -- from obstructing President Obama’s nominations
(including, but not limited to, Merrick Garland) to ignoring time-honored blue
slips in order to advance Trump’s nominations to rubber-stamping extreme right wing Federalist Society recommendations -- have been shredding Congressional norms
and Constitutional checks that have previously ensured at least a modicum of integrity
and fairness in our government.
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